Oregon Toxics Reduction Strategy: Tools and Initiatives June 25, 2013 - NW NAHMMA Conference

1. Oregon Toxics Reduction Strategy: Tools and Initiatives June 25, 2013 - NW NAHMMA Conference Kevin Masterson, Oregon DEQ Agency Toxics Coordinator masterson.kevin@deq.state.or.us

2. Why Develop Strategic Approach to Reducing Toxics? • Toxics don’t respect program boxes: • Pollutants released to air  deposit to land  run off to water • Gets us beyond chemical-by-chemical approach, while still prioritizing chemicals • Increases efficient use of resources by taking a more integrated and strategic approach • Complements existing DEQ toxics programs • E.g., “alternative implementation strategies” for WQ Human Health Toxics Standards

3. DEQ Toxics Reduction Strategy: Identifying High-Priority Chemicals • “Focus List” of 51 chemicals or groups of chemicals • Based on existing agency priority lists • Diverse range of chemicals • Overlaps with priorities of other organizations • EPA Chemical Action Plans • Large national retailers • List is not static – expect changes over time

4. Oregon DEQ’s Toxics Reduction Strategy Finalized in 2012 • 25 Recommended Actions in Strategy • 5 short-term priorities (2012-2014) • Overarching theme  collaboration • Actions complement and support: • Columbia River Toxics Reduction Action Plan • Governor’s Green Chemistry Executive Order

5. 2012 Oregon Executive Order: Promoting Green Chemistry • Executive Order No. 12-05: “Fostering Environmentally-Friendly Purchasing and Product Design” • Signed April 27, 2012 • Key components: • Develop outreach strategy for businesses to apply green chemistry (select 2 sectors) • Develop proposals to incentivize green chemistry through new or existing programs • Develop inter-agency toxics reduction strategy to ensure efficiencies and address gaps • Strengthen demand for low toxicity products through state purchasing practices and guidelines  Janitorial Supplies Pilot

6. Short-Term Priority Action:Partnering with Retailers on Reducing Toxics in Consumer Products • Support work of retail businesses to reduce toxics in their product supply chains • Find opportunities to advance mutual goals  common chemicals of concern lists • Share experiences with government purchasing initiatives

7. Short-Term Priority Action:Deliver Integrated Technical Assistance • Combining efforts of multiple programs and agencies to advance safer alternatives in two industry sectors • Identify and implement safer alternatives where feasible • Identify needs for green chemistry research and incentives

8. Short-Term Priority Action:Expand Pesticide Stewardship Partnerships • Build on program that uses environmental monitoring data to focus collaborative actionsand measure outcomes • Broad support for legislative funding package

9. Short-Term Priority Action:Expand Pesticide Stewardship Partnerships • Build on program that uses environmental monitoring data to focus collaborative actionsand measure outcomes • Broad support for legislative funding package

10. Short-Term Priority Action:Collecting Unwanted Pesticides • Establish Statewide Pesticide Collection Program • Legacy pesticides a threat to waters, but (unlike WA) no dedicated funding source in Oregon • Periodic events show increasing quantities collected

11. Interstate Collaboration on Green Chemistry • Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2) • Purpose: share information on chemicals of concern and assessing safer alternatives for state, local and tribal governments • Databases and resources for: • chemical hazard assessments • chemical use disclosure data • state priority chemicals • state chemicals policies • Draft Alternatives Assessment Guidance: http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/ic2/aaguidance.cfm